Nar Shaddaa

Within her base of operations Kristal stood before a communicator. Waiting to be patched through to Darth Marr.

Today was going to be a busy day.

Darth Marr stands resolute before her in the holo. He speaks firmly, “Report, Champion.”

"Darth Baras remains alive albeit has shifted the blame of the true Magpie onto his former apprentice, Layne Hoshin. While the damage remains catastrophic it is impossible to yet confirm who has actually died in this event," she says, military posture intact.

"From the message delivered by Magpie, I believe that the true perpetrator yet lives. Though it could be any number of persons taking up the mantle."

"As well explosions set off by the terrorist group known as Crescent Shadow have shaken this moon and constituted as an attack upon the Empire as well as the Republic."

"Is that your assessment, or simply a regurgitation of events?" Marr queries.

"Events as they are and not what was said, my Lord," she says. "My assessment is nothing remarkable. Events appear to have placed much of the anger and hate toward the terrorist cell and with Darth Baras deflecting blame to his former apprentice the matter surrounding him has settled for now."

"Without any other occurances the Diplomatic service should have plenty of room to perform their duties in securing what the Empire needs most."

"That, my lord, is my assessment of the current situation. However, where the Empire will go from here... there are more problems that have been created than there were that which were solved."

"Elaborate, Champion," he responds.

Squaring her shoulders she offered a succinct summary in place.

"Magpie remains a serious threat to the Empire while the woman the Empire believes to be Magpie, Baras' former apprentice, is now also forced to the shadows and likely a new enemy of the Empire. A woman who claims to have spoken with the Voice of the Emperor, a claim I tend to believe. Leaving her as a new credible threat to the Empire."

"Beyond that, I will have my team prepare a report accounting everything else."

"Baras has given us his report on the matter. He said Layne was dead, you feel otherwise though?" Marr responds.

"I have fought beside the woman. Layne Hoshin is a fighter and until a corpse is revealed I would not make the mistake of assuming she is dead and missing" she says with confidence.

"Layne Hoshin, if alive as I believe, poses another great threat to the stability of the Empire. It is a scenario we must be prepared for in these trying times."

"I leave that in your capable hands, if she rises from the dead to threaten the Empire, destroy her," Marr says.

"It will be done, my Lord, " she says bowing her head respectfully. Awaiting any further instruction ot command.

"Conquer in my name, Champion," he ends the call.

Kristal gave a firm nod and turned from the screen. Today she would see to the protection of the peace talks.

Tomorrow...

Well, Kristal would have to wait and see.